VIDEOPHONES which connect deaf people to sign language interpreters have been installed for people wanting to use council services in County Durham.

Until recently, deaf and hearing impaired people wanting to speak to someone at an organisation such as Durham County Council often had to wait a week for a British Sign Language interpreter.

But now video interpreting services are available for deaf people at Durham Citizens Advice Bureau, in the city centre, social service's Welfare Rights Unit, at Framwellgate Moor, Durham, County Hall in the city and the social services office in Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland.

They make up four of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf's 42 videophones installed around the country.

The technology allows a deaf person to communicate with a hearing person via a videophone connected to an interpreter at the Royal National Institute for the Deaf offices.

The interpreter can see the person through the videophone and can then pass on any questions or problems to county council staff.

Durham Citizens Advice Bureau manager Colin Thompson said: "We recognise that without this videophone we would be failing deaf people by not being able to communicate with them.

"We have the responsibility to try to overcome that difficulty, and our videophone goes a long way towards achieving this."

The director of social services at Durham County Council, Peter Kemp, said: "It can be very frustrating for deaf people wanting advice on anything from public transport to welfare benefits to then be faced with communication barriers.

"Our videophones are a welcome addition to the services we provide, and we encourage more deaf people to make use of them."